Spanning 153.9 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Clifton to New South Memphis is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 58 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $23 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating primarily via I-40, West Main Street, and Billy Nance Boulevard, you will remain within the Southeast region for the duration of your travel. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this route offers a reliable connection between these two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77 miles from Clifton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
82.3 mi
1h 29m
West Main Street
17.4 mi
19m
Billy Nance Boulevard
15.2 mi
17m
US 412
10.5 mi
11m
US 641
8.1 mi
9m
Avron B Fogelman Expressway
4.5 mi
6m
W B Fowler Senior Expressway
3.7 mi
5m
South Perkins Road
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, TN and New South Memphis, TN.
1
Start on SR 128
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Water Street
2
Turn slight left onto SR 128
463 ft·10 sec·Walnut Street
3
Turn right onto TN 128
1.1 mi·2 min·West Pillow Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 641; SR 128
15 mi·17 min·Billy Nance Boulevard
5
Continue on US 641; SR 202
8.1 mi·9 min·US 641; SR 202
6
Turn left onto US 412
17 mi·19 min·West Main Street
7
Continue on US 412
2.2 mi·2 min·West Church Sttreet
8
Continue on US 412
10 mi·11 min·US 412
9
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi·1 min·Law Road
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on Sam Cooper Boulevard
1.6 mi·2 min·Sam Cooper Boulevard
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 9Toward Perkins RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto North Perkins Road
1.1 mi·1 min·North Perkins Road
15
Continue on Perkins Extended
1.3 mi·2 min·Perkins Extended
16
Continue on South Perkins Road
2.3 mi·3 min·South Perkins Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 240 West
18
Merge onto I 240
4.5 mi·6 min·Avron B Fogelman Expressway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on I 240
3.7 mi·5 min·W B Fowler Senior Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 7Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third StreetUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 61 North: Third StreetUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Turn straight onto US 61
0.4 mi·36 sec·South Third Street
23
Arrive at destination
US 61
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable three-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without feeling rushed. Plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the 82.3-mile interstate stretch and keep yourself refreshed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto I-40 to ensure you have enough to cover the bulk of the mileage without needing to hunt for stations in high-traffic areas. By utilizing the 153.9-mile total distance effectively, you can reach New South Memphis by mid-day if you head out early. Remember that balancing your time between the local surface streets and the faster highway segments is the key to maintaining a smooth pace throughout your journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77 miles from Clifton, TN, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New South Memphis, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clifton, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clifton, TN
This is one driving day of about 153.9 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Clifton, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 82.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 55.7 and 153.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
55.7 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
55.9 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
139.8 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward Perkins Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward Perkins Road
8
153.2 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward US 61: Vicksburg, Third Street
8
153.3 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 61 North: Third Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 61 North: Third Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.06 one way
$48.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.42
$52.83
premium
$4.89
$29.62
$59.23
diesel
$5.61
$33.98
$67.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.2
0
$16.16
$7.39
Efficient EV
38.5
0
$13.47
$6.16
EV Truck/SUV
61.6
0
$21.55
$9.85
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Clifton, TN
Late night
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New South Memphis, TN
Late night
in New South Memphis on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Jackson, TN
77 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
29 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 58m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 71% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major roads. The journey features a significant 82.3-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the backbone of your trip and provides a consistent pace for the majority of the drive. While the transition from local roads like West Main Street and Billy Nance Boulevard into the interstate system changes the rhythm of your travel, the overall character remains functional and efficient. You will find that the road demands steady attention during the long interstate portion, contrasting with the slower, more localized navigation at the beginning and end of your trip.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and West Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 55.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 153.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 55.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 153.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.3 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at New South Memphis, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 55.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 139.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New South Memphis, TN before heading back.
